Monday, January 5, 2015

ANNOUNCING MY WORD FOR 2015

A couple of months ago, I had a meltdown. A good old sobfest with "The Hub." Numerous things were swirling through my emotions. Numerous aches in my heart were especially acute.

"The Hub" was dismayed.

You see, he does not like to see me cry. I don't think any man likes to see his loved one cry. It seems to trigger their *fix-it* gene.

He looked at me, rather desperately, and said, "What is wrong with you?"

And I, just as desperately replied, "I'm just so broken. I feel like I'm in a million pieces. I just really need God to heal me."

As soon as the word came out of my mouth, I felt it. It triggered something deep. It touched a nerve somewhere in my soul.

Later, after many Kleenexes – (for after all, meltdowns are sloppy business) – later I got to thinking more about what I said. And realized…

Yes, healing – that's what I want.

And I started to wonder if this could be my word for the coming year. Two things kept me from claiming it at this point. One, it was early. Most often, the word doesn't arrive until December sometime. And two, I was concerned that I was making this word my choice because it's what I wanted.

I like it when God picks.

So, I put it aside for the time being.

Well, as the weeks progressed, I started wondering some more. So I prayed. Prayed that God would confirm this word, HEALING, if it was His choice.

Two things happened.

Here's the first thing. I have had incredible insomnia over the last year. My mind just won't shut off. Many times I can't fall asleep, or I wake up and can't get back to sleep. Either scenario is annoying. But very often these are also the times when I am attacked with arrows of anxious thoughts and the hammer of fear is slung hard.

So, one night I got up and logged onto the internet. And, I googled this phrase, "dear lord do you see me?"

At the top of the list was something called The Dear God Project. And the very first sentence of the snippet below was this:

"I truly believe Lord that only you can heal me and you're my only hope."

Right there – the word – HEAL.Sigh...

Still not wanting to "handpick" my word, I continued to ask for another confirmation. (Hey, I figured it was OK to ask again. Gideon did it…)

Soon after, a dear friend, Cheryl, posted this. And once again, I felt the Lord tap me and say,"It's OK, Sharon. Yes, I will grant this word to you for the year. But let Me teach you what it really means. For My healing will go deeper than you can even imagine."

So…HEALING.

I tell you what, I don't really know what to expect.

But I have a feeling that God is going to teach me something deeply important and meaningful in this process of healing during this year.

And it's probably going to be something completely different than what I'm thinking – new avenues of revelation, new truths to explore, and new surprises along the journey.

For one thing, I'll tell you what I want when I think of this word. I want God to fix me, and fix my life.I want Him to take everything bad away.

I want THAT kind of healing. The good kind. Like how a warm bath soothes away the aches and pains.

God is most likely going to do something else, something more.

Three things He's already whispering to me.

First of all, healing might just require more brokenness.

I am reminded of how a broken bone sometimes needs to be re-broken so it can heal properly. I can remember how it once took a year for a piece of stepped-on broken glass to finally work its way out of my foot. Or the time when weeks after having an impacted wisdom tooth removed, a painful leftover piece once again required surgery to remove.

To reveal His healing, God is going to have to reveal where I'm really broken.

Not just the areas that hurt. There's a difference. The areas where I hurt are the areas that have something to do with my comfort. God wants to bring healing to the areas that have something to do with my character.

And that just might require some *ouch.*

Second, though I am seeking and wanting healing for myself,it just might arrive as I reach out to others with a healing touch.

For example, a few weeks ago "The Hub" and I came across a homeless man sitting in front of a dollar store. His head hung low, and he was particularly scrungy. Yet, we felt compelled to reach out with a small gift of money.

As we approached, his head came up, and I reached out my hand to give him our small offering. And before I knew it, without thinking (thank you, Holy Spirit!), I blurted this out:

"Are you cold? Could you use a blanket?"

Of course he answered yes.

We had to travel around to find somewhere to buy that blanket, and added a sweatshirt and some water, too.

But oh, how good it felt to do this. My heart felt full and satisfied. I knew that we had indeed touched on a secret to healing.

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42, NLT)

Yes, my healing might have a whole lot more to do with the healing of others.

And finally, healing is going to be found in the nourishment of daily bread.

Last year was the first year in a very long time that I didn't read my Bible every day. I started out well, but then my dad fell and went to the hospital and then passed away. My days were crazy and disrupted – in fact, the whole year has been a bit of a seesaw.

Yes, I was in the Word. But not in an intentional, methodical way. I missed it. Frankly, I think it had a lot to do with my struggles. So this year, with the Lord's help, I am going to return to the discipline of daily reading.

I have a feeling that this practice is deeply tied to healing.So, boom, there it is…my new word.HEALING.

I think of the time when Jesus said this:"When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'" (Mark 2:17, NLT)

Oh yes. I am a sinner in deep need of healing.I desperately require the services of the Great Physician. And, I am glad that I know it. It opens the door for the Lord to work.

I close with a remembrance of the scene of the man at the pool of Bethesda. A man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus, arriving on the scene, had this to say:

"When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?'" (John 5:6, ESV)

Perhaps this is the beginning point of my year of healing – answering that question. Because it's not as straightforward as it seems. My gut reaction is to scream, "YES! Of course I do! I am in pain, after all."But true healing is going to require learning other lessons.Lessons of humility, desire, longing, self-sacrifice, surrender.

"Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!"One step at a time, yoked with Him and in His strength, I am going to do just that.

"Taking her by the hand he said to her, 'Talitha cumi,' which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise.'" (Mark 5:41, ESV)

OK, Lord, I rise…

(To be continued…)

For I will restore healthunto thee,and I will heal theeof thy wounds.

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5, ESV)"For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal." (Job 5:18, NIV)"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3, ESV) "O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved." (Jeremiah 17:14, NLT) "Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD…" (Psalm 6:2, NLT)"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds." (Hosea 6:1, NLT)"They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them." (Isaiah 19:22, NIV)"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them…" (Psalm 107:19-20, ESV)"The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” (Psalm 34:17-19, NLT)"…Thus says the LORD…'I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.'" (2 Kings 20:5, ESV)"He took her by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!'). Immediately the girl stood up…" (Mark 5:41-42, NIV)"'Behold, I will bring…health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.'" (Jeremiah 33:6, NASB)"'My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.'" (Proverbs 4:20-22, NLT)"O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me." (Psalm 30:2, NASB)"...unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy." (Malachi 4:2, AMP)"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.'And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!... Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true...It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega –the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.'" (Revelation 21:3-7, NLT)"...for I am the LORD who heals you." (Exodus 15:26, NLT)YAHWEH ROPHEKA (RAPHA)

***SIDENOTE: Be sure to check out my sidebar for some thoughts and definitions of healing. And, I've also included some wonderful verses about healing. (Look under MY WORD FOR 2015, and MY VERSES FOR 2015).

Additionally, please check out these new pages: 2015 QUOTES ON HEALING, 2015 THOUGHTS ON HEALING, 2015 SONGS OF HEALING, and A COMMENTARY ON HEALING. I think you'll be edified in the reading – I most certainly was!

61 comments:

It seems to me that you have come to the point of realizing no one else can do for you what only God can do. No one else (especially the hubs with the fix-it gene) can heal your broken heart. Keep running to Him.

I was wonderingwhat your word would be, Sharon,. I think it is a great word. I had to laugh about the man fix it gene; isn't that the truth that they don't like to see us crying or sad and think they can fix it or want to try to fix it? I look forward to your year of healing and how God does it. I remember how you struggled with the word joy but then at the end how it all "worked out." I do have a word for the year, LOL, but will blog about it, probably in the next week or so.

Oh yes, Sharon, Healing flowing from the Throne of God's Grace is what each of us needs in one way or another ... after a year of J.O.Y., there could not be a better word that God might have presented and confirmed for you then that you, Sharon, can find that healing in His wings that have carried you, sheltered you, protected you, and yes, began the healing in you and through you to others. It does not always take a "meltdown" to know this yet this indeed is part of the loss we feel when we grieve. And as you have pointed out before and here that when we get a "word" to focus on for the year, we know that God has a BIGGER plan in mind ... and that quite often when you ask for one thing that it is sure that you will face the opposition of that word (ex. patience-impatience; joy-sadness; hope-despair; rest-busyness, etc.). Not too sure that there is a definitive opposite to healing other than brokenness... however, I do know that we have been in that place of brokenness and it's time to allow Jehovah Rapha in to those places.

I was surprised a little, but could not wait to read this to find out your new word (and I did earlier but was unable to comment from the device I read it on, my "not-so Smart TV"- Christmas gift to me). I was also surprised in the "search" you chose for one of your insomnia moments. You and I are so alike in this!

You have already done quite a bit of work on this ... per your sidebar and verses!Now "Let the Healing begin" (there is a song with this:"This is where the healing begins..." that I love). The prayer from Ann Spangler to "Jehovah Ropheka" is wonderful! I will claim and pray those Bible verses for you (us), Isaiah 53 is one of my favorites and attached to a miracle for Tracy! May God bring healing and restoration as He makes us whole in Jesus' name! He is our Great Physician for our mind, our hearts, our bodies and our souls!

Hi Sharon, I love your word for 2015. What I have noticed with people declaring their word for the year is that when i read the "why" it is most illuminating. Not what I would have said from just acknowledging "the one word". I love that. It tells me of the depth of God's desire to bring us closer to Him. My word for the year is wisdom and although for me I haven't yet defined it, or thought further than Proverbs (of course) I know that by the end of the year, God-willing, the Lord would have changed my understanding of wisdom, His wisdom. I truly want it! So I will continue to read of your healing journey and I love when you visit over at my blog too. God bless precious ladyTracy

Wonderful thoughts and wonderful word. I'm with you on the insomnia of last year. It was torture and seemed unending. Of course, lack of sleep affected other things and it was a vicious cycle. Anyway, I'm so thankful God gives us words and it's more than just ours. He touches others at the same time and through healing and restoring us. What a good Dad! Look forward to reading your journey, Sharon. :)

Wow...I think healing is the perfect word for you...and I love it how you explained that you were waiting on God to tell you what it was. I so appreciate you for being so open and honest in sharing these personal experiences. God has blessed you with a marvelous gift and through your journey of seeking and finding your word, you no doubt will help many in their journey to healing as well. God Bless, friend!

Healing - Love it! The sentence in your post that really resonated with me was when you said that "God wants to bring healing to the areas that have something to do with my character." Wow. So true for me as well! I'm excited to see where He's going to grow me in 2015!

I am sure you are not surprised to hear I love the word God gave you. Oh the places you will go as He guides you in His healing plan for your life......exciting. I love how well laid out you have it and that we can benefit from it. You are such a kind person, Sharon. God bless your journey!

This was my reply to your comment on my blog today...I think it bears repeating here. It is pretty close to what you wrote yourself...I did not read your post until after I replied to your comment, so that's pretty cool. <3 Lisa

"What a good word you have chosen...HEALING...I can think of many many ways in which God can use your healing to help teach people that it takes some pain and some scrapes along the way before we can fully appreciate and understand how capable and willing God is to heal our wounds."

May God guide your journey and bring you the healing that he envisions for you, may you always feel his presence even though the possible rebrokeness and ouch. Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable and allowing God to work through you.

I think you are so wise to lay out what healing might actually entail. To surrender your own expectations from the beginning? That is SO huge! Sharon, I can't wait to follow along with you to see what God does to bring healing to you.

Hi Sharon! I love your word! And that you had two confirmations too, that's so wonderful. I really related to the 'broken bone' analogy. It's really great that you can see that more pain might come before the healing. That's so 'grown up'.

May God send his holy grace on you to quiet you mind, give you rest, and give you the healing you seek. He certainly wouldn't call you to something and then not give you what you need. It will be excited to follow you through the year!Blessings,Ceil

This sounds so much like what I went through when I was first struggling with my infertility. Feeling so broken. I love your word - "healing". The word God brought to me for my brokenness was "peace". Peace with the path that He was leading us down...even the painful parts! I think peace and healing go hand in hand together. Great post! -Jess

Healing comes in many forms, and it is a wonderful word for you and yes for others too. we are a three part being, we are a spirit, we have a soul (mind will and emotions) and we live in a body. God manifests himself in different ways to heal all our parts. Allow God to reveal to you and touch those areas as he makes it known to you. I often lay away for a long time before falling asleep, but I read a tip that seems to help. Take a deep breath and slowly let it out - and hold your breath for a few seconds, then inhale deeply again and hold your breath for another few seconds. That is it. No need to redo, as you will drop off to sleep right away. Thank you for your sweet comments on my story, and for sharing with us here at "Tell me a Story."

In past years I had the word shine and then the word listen; I don't have one for this year yet. I like your post and how you received your word "healing". I was going to tell you that in church yesterday our minister told the story of Jesus and the man at the healing pool and how Jesus said "Do you want to be healed" and then He told the man to pick up his mat and walk. He gave the man work to do! To participate in his healing. And then you wrote about that story so you were already thinking of it. Have a glorious journey this year.

Oh, dear friend! Your precious words touched my heart, as usual. I can't thank you enough. And how I thank God for orchestrating our paths crossing this past year. Maybe one day He will allow us to meet face-to-face on this earth. If not, I feel like I will recognize you in Heaven some sweet day! I still haven't been able to narrow down my one word. There is a theme that God is dealing with me about, and I am not sure if this is what He wants my one word to be. But, I will follow your example and seek Him diligently. I don't want to just pick one, either, and then it not even be in line with His will and purpose for the season we are in right now. So, may He just make it plain and clear to me. Love you so dearly.

Whatever word God gives you, this much I feel certain of, we will all learn something about HEALING through you. I am so grateful for the gift He has given you to share your heart with us because every post you share inspires me in my walk with Him. Did that make sense? Point being . . . THANK YOU.

I am still not sure how to put in to words why He gave me the word SELFLESS. Other than to say, I am discovering that every post I read from another revealing their word for the year, it seems to point me to my word even more. Like it's the root of it all for me. Still not sure I'm making sense. lol.Grateful for YOU.Much love.xoxo

I don't have a word for the year, but I'm commenting anyway. This really touched me. My heart connects deeply with your desire for God to "fix" you - to heal your life, but how you want it. That's me. I KNOW I need to trust and let Him heal me in my way so that in the end I'm beautifully His and perfect...but I like my comfort and I'm tired of hurting. I share your prayer to be brave enough to allow Him to heal me in His way and make me as I need to be. Thanks for these beautiful thoughts!

Hi, this is my first time visiting your blog. I am linked up just a couple of blogs after yours over at #TellHisStory.

I love your word for 2015 - very powerful and full of promise. I'm glad to see that God is gently whispering to you to be prepared for some hurt to accompany his healing. It shows His love and grace that He wants you to be prepared.

I am newly sharing my story of healing over at incrementalhealing.wordpress.com For me, healing has come slowly over time - at times my journey has been excruciating, but at times it has been life-giving and freeing.

I love all your verses for the year. I pray you find the healing you need in this new year - and it seems like you are off to a great start by admitting what you need!Thanks for linking up to Tuesday Talk!!Katie @ Sweet Little Ones

To reveal His healing, God is going to have to reveal where I'm really broken.

Not just the areas that hurt. There's a difference. The areas where I hurt are the areas that have something to do with my comfort. God wants to bring healing to the areas that have something to do with my character.

I love your words. They always bless me. Your One Word is a good word. I am praying healing for you. God bless and thank you for linking with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday! Please join us again next Wednesday.

I agree with you- I'd rather God pick my word than me. This year is the first year He's given me a single word (normally it is a verse). It means so much more when you know this is something gifted from Him. Thanks for sharing and linking up at The Loft!

The balm of Gilead. Sharon this is wonderful. I don't have a word for this year but I seem to have scripture and it is Matt. :25-34. I have allowed anxious thoughts to take away life. I, too, have had a mind that wouldn't stop at night. Last year my word was restoration. I think I saw more restoration among my friends than I felt in my own life, but then again, I am not God and He does know what He is doing. Blessings as you experience healing.

I enjoyed reading this! I love your word "healing". I haven't received my word yet. It may be "prayer", but I am still waiting like you did. I listened to an online sermon probably 10 years ago called "The Healing Covenant". I'm not sure if it still exists but I believe it was on a site called Ken Birks Ministry. I can't remember what kind(denomination) of preacher he was, but I remember thinking that it was a great sermon. I might should have checked about it before posting this comment. Oh well, google it and see if you can find it. I think I will do the same.God bless.Love you!

What an awesome word! I too never say anything until the Lord confirms my word to me so I know it's not me and Him. When I finished reading your post, I prayed that the Lord heal you in every place you hurt. I love how open you are to Him and confident that this year will be a year of healing. Looking forward to the 2015 posts here at your place!

I so appreciate your humor, but I've learned that it won't be long before wisdom from our Father and all things that I can relate to is forthcoming. Brokenness before healing and putting others before ourselves… Wow. And ouch… Good word, sister. And good Word… I'm living this life either peeking over your shoulder, or your peeking over mine… or we're taking turns…

Healing is such a great word. It is so important for us to take care of ourselves. But I also agree that often healing comes from helping others. I loved the piece you talked about where you talked about being mat carriers. A seminary friend is battling cancer and she calls us her prayer warriors her mat-carriers. I love that image! My word for 2015 is brave.

Healing is such a beautiful word. My word is content. I have found myself complaining far too much over trivial things, and I want to focus on all the gifts that God has given me. I am laying my heart before God and asking him to teach me contentment this year. Thank you for sharing your heart and your journey.

I think it is amazing how He meets us always in those broken spaces and waits for us to find him, always waiting to be found. Your thoughts on healing are purposeful, and evidently well researched. I love to dig into the word like that as well, and seek Him in His promises. May the healing come in waves and in the rain and in light He shines upon you and may you experience it over and over in continual reminder of His love for you so that you can extend it to others. That one thought.. that you will find healing in helping others, it stood out to me and I love it. That is gospel living! May He provide opportunities for you to do just that.Blessings,Dawn

Great post today Sharon! I love how you tie it into everything that has been happening to you. I'll have to pray and let you know what my word is for 2015. I haven't really given it much thought but will continue to lift you up in prayer daily as ask that God work in your life this year, like never before.

I pray this for you Sharon, in every way you need it. We ALL need healing, God's healing, daily. It's a really good word for the year. I think your 'word' has come BECAUSE He is doing his healing work in you. May this year ahead produce the healing only He can give.

I love your word for the year. I love that you waited on Him to reveal it. And yes God always has other plans. Things never come how we expect. I love that you are prepared for that. Glad I followed you over from Fellowship Fridays.

Sharon, as painful as this all is, how wonderful that the healing has begun. I remember going through all of this, and thought, "Will I ever stop crying?" But the tears are necessary and cleansing. I hope that along with the Holy Spirit, you have one or two very close friends who understand the healing process and can be with you, hold you up, cry with you and pray with you. Know that we here in Blogland will be doing the same, as we ask you, "Could you use a blanket?" The Blanket of the Covering of the Holy Spirit will warm you on those cold nights when the insomnia magnifies those things in your mind to disproportionate proportions. I look forward to reading about and witnessing the changes in 2015 and I'm sure that your vulnerability and transparency will bless others...we never know who we are reaching sometimes. Be kind to yourself and don't rush the process. In the end, we both know that God is in control, and He has you in the palm of His hand.

I am seeking physically healing too for the New Year. I blogged about it. I have health issues and am seeking God's strength. Thanks for being so opened and honest. I will pray for your success in your journey toward healing.

This is my first year to join in with One Word.The word I chose is `Faith` and I already see confirmation.To me belief and faith are synonymous.When I don't see the word Faith, I do see the word belief.This post was about your word `healing`However, what stood out to me was `Help me in my unbelief`.It's interesting the direction God is taking me through my word `faith`.Because, after all, faithlessness is synonymous with unbelief.

I loved reading this! I have some healing to do myself this year. Like you said, when God heals, he can dig things up that might be really painful. This healing, however, is a healing that lasts, and I think that is what we are all after!

What a perfect word, and I love how God brought the confirmation. My word is "content" and I am beginning to believe that I too have some healing to experience before that word will come to realization in my life. Have a blessed week.

I am so glad you shared your "one word" and I agree that God usually has a different take on what our word means than we do. Your story shows how God really has chosen the word "healing" for you this year. I will be praying that healing comes in a big way for you personally as well as for others. Blessed you joined The Weekend Brew.

A glorious pick of a word, my girl!! I love the association to the word, Renewal! I use that word alot--in prayer for myself and others. An interesting follow-up to Joy--which I've already commented on. AND, just so you know--I commented on the post about your dad, the most recent post, FIRST. I was going to end it but felt to add those last words about healing in 2015. THEN, I saw this post and was just smiling at how the Lord knew already and take it as a blessing from Him. His will for you in this year is healing and what glorious things await you - You're "growing into greater things"!!!!!!!!!

Mother Chicken is hatched - watch for your copy by the beginning of February!!! I will covet your prayers as I am now delving into the Bible study segment of it for the study guide. So many notes to the purpose. As you read through the questions at the end of the picture book, I'd love to know some of your thoughts when you have a chance.

Very beautiful, Sharon. I'm so glad to meet you through the link up @ Faith Barista. You've shared very heartfelt, honest, and hope-filled thoughts. I agree with you that healing comes in the way of brokenness, humility, and surrender. May our Father truly lead you into "avenues of revelation, new truths to explore, and new surprises along the journey" of 2015. What an inspiring site you have here!

I found you through the Grace and Truth LinkUp. I'm so excited to go read your post on Songs of Healing next, as my word of the year is Sing. Your post made me revisit some thoughts I posted at http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2013/02/still-pondering-miracles.html (and it's follow up at http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2013/02/trees-walking.html ) I wrote a couple years ago when working on understanding the various forms God's healing might take. {hug}

Hi, Sharon. :) I'm stopping by from Grace and Truth again. I can relate to so much of what you've written here! I like these words best: "To reveal His healing, God is going to have to reveal where I'm really broken." Isn't that the truth?! So often I fail to see where He is really working in my life because it's not where I want. Thanks for sharing!Jen :)

"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)

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About Me

I'm a middle-aged, married, Christian woman. I have one wonderful husband, two great adult sons, two awesome daughters-in-law, two precious granddaughters, and an adorable granddog (a beloved beagle!) I consider myself a COLEN ("Change-Of-Life Empty-Nester"). This is a time of transition in my life. Things are changing, and so am I. However, I desire nothing more than to serve my Savior. Please join me on my journey as I walk out my faith in the second half of life!

MY PRAYER

FAITHFUL ONE

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

Revelation 3:8, NIV

WHY I WRITE

"I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.

I write to discover what I know."

- Flannery O'Connor

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Though I am truly humbled and honored by your consideration, your comments are awesome enough!! Thank you so much.

"You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain - the place, O LORD, reserved for your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. The LORD will reign forever and ever!"

(Exodus 15:17-18)

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths."

MY WORD FOR 2016

Word origin: 1550's, "pleasing to the mind," also "full of gratitude," from obsolete adj. grate "agreeable, thankful," from Latin gratus "pleasing" – derived from the same word origin as the word "grace."

The trick to changing your behavior is to become more thankful.

The practice of gratitude involves a focus on the present moment, on appreciating your life as it is today and what has made it so.

Let us begin an eternal quest to express in new and creative ways our thanks to God.

So I'm breathing in Your grace,

And I'm breathing out Your praise.

Let our prayers be the overflow of a grateful heart to God.

Three steps in prayer:

PRAISE – praise, reverence, worship, adoration, and awe for who God is and what He does

ASK – honest, earnest, and intense requests

THANK YOU – always end with thanksgiving for everything

Pulpit commentary:

In everything give thanks.

In every circumstance – in joy and in sorrow; for everything – for prosperity and for adversity; in every place – in the house of God and on the bed of sickness.

Christians should not only be engaged in constant prayer, but in constant thanksgiving.

For this – this thankful spirit – is the will of God, His desire.

God by the gift of his Son has laid us under the obligation of perpetual thanksgiving. Our whole lives ought to be one continued thank-offering for all the blessings of redemption.

Gill's Exposition:

Thanks are to be given to him for all things…

For all temporal good things;

for our beings, the preservation of them;

for food and raiment, and all the mercies of life;

for the means of grace, the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel;

and especially for Jesus Christ, for such a…Saviour, and advocate with the Father, as he is; and for life, peace, joy, comfort, righteousness, and salvation in him.

Thanks should be given to God in every circumstance of life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so comfortable and agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for…even under the temptations of Satan…since the grace of God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out of them.

[Give thanks] in afflictions of every kind, since they are all for good – temporal, or spiritual, or eternal.

The enemy specializes in making me feel discontent, unsatisfied, miserable, grumpy, self-focused, negative, and fearful.He brings nothing but suffering and pain – but You, O God, specialize in making megrateful...

TEACH ME YOUR WAY, LORD.

MY VERSE FOR 2016

"Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, AMP)

A PRAYER OF GRATEFULNESS

Dear Lord, I want to change my outlook. I want to transform my spirit. I do not want to go through another day without remembering all that You have given me, and thanking You for it. Please give me the power to be thankful in all things, and for all things, for You are with me in all of it. Let me never forget that You work all things together for good, and for that I am eternally grateful.

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Thank you so much!

"THE HUB"

MARTY

"All creatures great and small, The Lord God made them all!"

"You care for people and animals alike, O LORD."

(Psalm 36:6)

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

- Anatole France

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME...

...yesterday, today, and forever!

A WORD FROM THE WORD

"'I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle...so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the LORD, and there is no other.'"

(Isaiah 45:5-6, NLT)

A "MESSAGE" FROM GOD

"'I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me...They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.'"

(Malachi 1:11)

(All verses taken from "The Message" by Eugene H. Peterson)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How do you cope with distress in your life?

Grateful Word:DISTRESS

"I tell you...if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

(Luke 19:40, NIV)

ON PRAYER

Sometimes I get all messed up when I think about prayer. Sometimes I think I look at it backwards – thinking it's all about me communicating with God. It is that, for sure. But it's also a time for God to communicate with me. It doesn't have to be big and lofty, nor long and pious. It's just two people who dearly love each other seeking conversation and communion.

FAITH

Seeing great miracles does not necessarily lead to great faith. Rather, great faith comes from a deep-seated conviction that God is great.

GRATITUDE

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude."

- A. A. Milne

EL ROI

The God Who Sees Me

"Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings?"

(Job 39:26)

"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?"

(C. S. Lewis, "Till We Have Faces")

PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTY

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."

ASLAN LIVES!

IN HIS EYES

MY OTHER BLOG

(For the complete story about "Bible Pick 'Ems," see my blog entry dated June 29, 2010)

(P.S. Please find references on the "BIBLE PICK 'EMS" Page on this blog!)

NOTE:

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, c. 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation)

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is when you are missing some of your teeth but you're not afraid to smile because you know your friends will still love you even though some of you is missing.

By Emma K. - Age 6

"Out of the mouth of babes..."

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

Anonymous

When you are uncertain, it helps to have someone remind you what is true – someone who knows you well, who sees you, and keeps track of you – not just your body but your soul.

Emily Freeman

HE IS MY ROCK

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust..." (Psalm 18:2)

HOLD FAST

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on solid bedrock." (Matthew 7:24-25)

WHEN I AM WEAK, HE IS STRONG

PROMISE FOR THE DAY

TRUST IN ME

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

GOD PROTECTS THE CHILDLIKE...

"For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."(Matthew 19:14)

MEET THE BIBLE

A ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Reading this year from: "The Amplified Bible" by Zondervan and The Lockman Foundation, c. 1987 (revision)

"Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4, NLT)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8, NLT)

HOW GREAT THOU ART

"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship." (Psalm 19:1)

"He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord!...His understanding is beyond comprehension!"

(Psalm 147:4,5)

"Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him from the skies!...Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him all you twinkling stars!" (Psalm 148:1,3)

"For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth."

(Psalm 108:4,5)

"Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?" (Psalm 71:19)

"I alone am God, the First and the Last. It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth, my right hand that spread out the heavens above. When I call out the stars, they all appear in order." (Isaiah 48:12)

"God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses." (Jeremiah 10:12-13)

ALL FOR HIS GLORY

I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.

If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace.

I will commit myself to instruction and listen carefully

to words of knowledge.

I will leave it all in the Lord's hand.

I will trust Him.

For there truly is a reward for those who live for God.

ALL GLORY TO GOD FOREVER AND EVER!! AMEN!

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause,

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause -

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,

I’d rather be true to His holy name -

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead,

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

THE GLORIFIED ONE

SERVING THE MOST HIGH

Corrie ten Boom once said she was simply, "the skin on the hands of God."

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39)

"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" (Matthew 25:40)

"'And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.'"

(Matthew 10:42)

"...my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."